Top 50 Best Manly Drinks For Men – The Men’s Bar Guide

Have a cosmo for all I care. No judgement here. The point of this guide is to simply give you more options at the bar!

If you want some manly drink suggestions, you’re in luck. This is without a doubt, the best men’s guide on the planet.

From A-Z, your bar guide awaits.. Take a look.

TOP 50 BEST MANLY DRINKS:

1. Irish Car Bomb

The name of this drink references the many car bombings that took place during the Troubles in Ireland, in which many people were hurt or killed. For this reason, some bartenders will refuse to make it. You may even be asked to leave. To avoid offense, ask for this drink by ingredients in unfamiliar establishments.

Fans of the mint julep may want to sample this citrus-heavy cocktail. Mint, lemon, whiskey and simple syrup come together to make for a refreshing drink that’s perfect for summer. Using Maker’s Mark will add to the sweetness, while an option such as Old Forester will add more of a spicy undertone.

While no one is quite sure when whiskey was first produced, there is evidence of it in Mesopotamia dating back to 2,000 BC. Monastic records from the 13th century also show that monks made whiskey and used it medicinally, for ailments ranging from smallpox to colic.

RECIPE

1/3 cup bourbon whiskey
Ball of ice

4. Traditional Absinthe

Absinthe was once banned in the US and many European nations for being a dangerous psychoactive drug that was addictive, due to thujone content. In 2007, the FDA allowed absinthe to be sold once more, providing it is thujone-free, as it was found no more dangerous than any other spirit.

RECIPE

Absinthe
1 Sugar cube
Ice-cold water

5. Tom Collions

The Tom Collins is the ‘Prince Albert in a Can’ of the drinking world. The hoax of asking the unawares if they’ve seen Tom Collins and that he could be found in the bar around the corner began circulating in 1874 and immortalized the sweet ‘gin and lemonade’ cocktail.

As with many drinks, tastes have changed over time. In the 1953 novel The Long Goodbye it is described as being half gin and half lime juice. Others insist it is proper to add soda water. The same ratios are also used to make gimlets with vodka, which became popular in the 40s and survives today.

RECIPE

2 ounces London dry gin
2/3 ounce Rose’s lime juice

7. Stinger

Popularized in movies in the 1940s and 1950s, a stinger is comprised of creme de menthe and brandy. Alternatively, using green creme de menthe yields a Green Hornet. Vodka stingers were mentioned on the popular television show Family Guy, introducing another generation to this popular variant.

RECIPE

1 1/2 oz brandy
1/2 oz white creme de menthe

8. Steamroller

Often credited as a Boilermaker with a twist, a Steam Roller mixes steam beer, rye whiskey, lemon juice and both elderflower and cherry liqueurs. The result is a pleasant and somewhat fruity taste that packs a punch. It’s a great recipe if you don’t particularly care for the taste of straight whiskey in your beer.

In the United States, this blend of cider and lager is quite common. This was cause for a minor diplomatic kerfuffle when President Bill Clinton traveled to the United Kingdom and ordered one at a North Yorkshire pub. The owner refused to draw him one, saying it was illegal to do so. However, no such law exists.

RECIPE

8 oz. hard cider
8 oz. stout beer

10. Sidecar

Claimed by the world-class Ritz Hotel in Paris, this mixture of orange liqueur, cognac and lemon juice is also claimed by the the Buck’s Club in London. No matter who thought of it first or what composition is preferred, it is also quite similar to the earlier and lesser-known Brandy Daisy.

RECIPE

3/4 oz triple sec
1/2 oz cognac
3/4 oz lemon juice

11. Scotch and Soda

Good scotch can cost several hundred dollars per bottle and is usually drunk by sipping, in order to better appreciate the flavor and aroma. Cutting it with soda or water is common in order to truly enjoy the whiskey and make it last longer, as many aficionados believe that less-expensive varieties taste horrible.

RECIPE

2 oz Scotch whisky
Club soda

12. Sazerac

Sazerac is often touted as the first American cocktail, with roots going back to New Orleans before the Civil War. It could not be made properly for almost a hundred years, however, as one of the ingredients is absinthe.

Usually served over ice, a neat version of this concoction is often called a Straight Up Nail. This drink was first mixed in the high-end 21 Club in Manhattan. Celebrity influence by the 1960s Hollywood Rat Pack brought it to even more wide-spread popularity.

In many English-speaking countries, a rum and coke is served over ice with a lime wedge. Travelers, though, should ask for a Cuba Libre and expect their drink to include a splash of lime juice. A sweeter variation is a Midas, where the coke is replaced with cream soda.

Yet another drink that hails from New York City, the Rob Roy was created in 1894 by the barkeep at the famed Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan. It takes its name from the operetta Rob Roy, which ran at the Herald Square Theatre for 235 performances.

RECIPE

2 1/2 oz Scotch whisky
1 1/2 tsp dry vermouth
1 twist lemon peel

16. Old Fashioned

The drink of choice for Don Draper, the main character of popular TV series Mad Men, the exposure revitalized interest in this centuries-old concoction. While the recipe has adapted over time, muddling bitters with sugar and mixing in brandy or whiskey has been a classic choice since the early 1800s.

This strong apéritif is usually credited to an Italian bartender who, in 1919, left the soda water out of an Americano and replaced it with gin at the request of his client who wanted his drink to be stronger. The garnish was changed from lemon to an orange peel to denote the difference.

Purported to be the drink of choice for Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Ernest Hemingway, the Mojito is believed to have originated in Havana, Cuba. Very popular in hot climates, there are dozens of variations ranging from a virgin Nojito to the Korean Sojito. Are Mojitos any good? Just ask Sam Axe from Burn Notice.

Sean Connery’s immortal words in 1964’s Goldfinger, “shaken, not stirred,” have become a catchphrase for generations of film lovers. Funny enough, a shaken martini is actually called a Bradford. The martini first appeared in mixology lore in the 1860s and has several variations, including a ‘dirty’ recipe that includes a splash of olive juice.

This drink takes the shrinking violet of the Shirley Temple and adds a shot of whiskey. Don’t let the pinkish color and Maraschino cherry fool you. The Manly Temple, with its new twist on an old idea, is great for anyone who enjoys a stiff drink.

RECIPE

2oz Whiskey
1oz Grenadine
Sprite

21. Long Island Iced Tea

When you order a Long Island Iced Tea, there is just no telling what you’re actually going to receive. Most establishments can agree that ingredients include gin, tequila, rum and vodka. After that, all bets are off. Mixers can include soda, lemon juice, iced tea or cola. Some bars also nix the tequila in favor of brandy.

Meaning “divine wind” in Japanese, the Kamikaze is also known as a Bullfrog. Made of equal parts lime juice, triple sec and vodka, it is rumored that the recipe originated with American GIs at the Yokusuba military base during the Second World War.

RECIPE

1.25 oz Smirnoff No. 21 Vodka
0.25 oz triple sec
0.25 oz lime juice

23. Jack And Coke

This highball has been gaining popularity for years, so much so that Jack Daniels launched a pre-mixed, canned version in Australia and New Zealand that uses ‘cola’ rather than trademarked and proprietary Coca-Cola. It’s also known as a JD and Coke throughout the world.

RECIPE

2 oz Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee whiskey
10 oz Coca-Cola®

24. Imperial Fizz

A variant of the whiskey fizz, an imperial includes an egg white. While Rocky Balboa drank his raw eggs straight, the risk of salmonella poisoning makes this drink risky. Try it if you must, but get to a doctor if you develop a fever, diarrhea, vomiting or abdominal pain.

Originally detailed as a glass of grapefruit juice with a shot of gin added and served over ice, modern tastes have changed the recipe to substitute vodka for gin. This change in preference occurred after 1945, when vodka became far more common and overtook gin in popularity.

RECIPE

2 oz vodka
5 oz grapefruit juice

26. Gold Rush

Made of equal parts Goldschläger and Red Bull energy drink in a shot glass, the Gold Rush is a favorite of San Francisco football fans. The shot takes its name from the 49ers cheer squad, named the Gold Rush Cheerleaders.

Equal parts amaretto and scotch, this cocktail was rumored to be a favorite of lauded American actor Marlon Brando. Brando’s celebrated portrayal of the eponymous character in the 1972 film The Godfather may provide an explanation for the drink’s moniker.

RECIPE

1 1/2 oz Scotch whisky
3/4 oz amaretto almond liqueur

28. Gin Ricky

Rickeys were originally made with bourbon, but the rest of the recipe remains unchanged. Half of a lime is squeezed and dropped into a tall glass, topped with a piece of ice, a wineglass of gin, and filled with seltzer water. They have recently become quite popular again due to the efforts of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild.

RECIPE

2 ounces Gin
1 ounce lime juice
3/4 ounce simple syrup

29. Gin and Tonic

When ordering, be sure to specify if you want lime or lemon, as either is acceptable based on geography and the individual bartender. If you prefer both lemon and lime, that is properly called an Evans. Cucumber substitutes for citrus with Hendrick’s Gin.

RECIPE

1.5 oz Beefeater Gin
Tonic water
1 Lemon
1 Lime

30. Frisco Sour

Bracing and dry, the Frisco sour blends Benedictine with rye whiskey and adds lemon juice to cut some of the sweetness down. It was quite popular during Prohibition, but fell into near-obscurity in recent years. It’s definitely worthy of a try.

RECIPE

2 ounces rye whiskey
1/2 ounce Benedictine
1/2 ounce lemon juice

31. French 75/95

Created in 1915 at the New York Bar in Paris, this concoction of sugar, gin, champagne, and lemon juice is named after the heavy artillery guns of the same name due to it’s kick. It is also known as a 75 Cocktail.

This drink contains no Dr. Pepper whatsoever, and is made by topping a shot of amaretto with a combustible liquor such as Bacardi or Everclear. The liquor is ignited and the whole shot dunked into half a glass of beer to extinguish it.

RECIPE

3/4 shot amaretto almond liqueur
1/4 oz 151 proof rum
1/2 glass beer

33. Dark and Stormy

A trademarked recipe, this highball is made with Gosling’s black rum and ginger beer. The trademark is owned by the Gosling Brothers of Bermuda, but there’s no law saying you can’t experiment with other rum and beer combinations to find your signature Dark and Stormy.

Created in the early 1870s in New York City, the Manhattan is quite variable and will likely differ from bar to bar. During Prohibition it became necessary to substitute American whiskey with Canadian, as it was far more readily available.

In American parlance, a Boilermaker is a shot of whiskey and a beer. They can be mixed or the beer can be used to chase the shot, if served separately. In the United Kingdom, the drink is a half-and-half mixture of bottled brown ale and mild draft.

RECIPE

1 shot whiskey
1 beer

37. Bloody Bull

An unusual drink to say the least, the Bloody Bull mixes vodka, tomato juice, lemon and lime with beef bullion. It is considered by some to be a quirky adaptation of the far more wide-spread Bloody Mary, and can make for an interesting taste experience.

Another layered drink, a Black Velvet is stout beer poured over champagne. It was invented in London in 1861 in response to the death of Prince Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria. It is never served stirred, so bartenders use a spoon to pour the stout and avoid splashing.

RECIPE

Guinness stout
Brut champagne

39. Billionaires Margarita

This cocktail is a recent invention that appears to have originated in Texas within the last few years. A mixture of sugar, Grand Marnier cognac, tequila and lime juice, it is served over crushed ice in a salt-encrusted glass and garnished with a lime wedge.

Another modern invention without much history, a Beer Buster is made by adding two dashes of Tabasco sauce into a shot of your favorite vodka and topping it off with a bottle of beer in a tall, frosty mug. The spicy kick makes it a fun novelty, especially if you’re enjoying your drink with a savory snack.

On Vacation? Try these drinks…

41. Blue Hawaiian

Also known as the Swimming Pool Cocktail, the Blue Hawaiian includes Curaçao, rum, pineapple juice, creme of coconut and, sometimes, vodka. It is a vacation staple and is usually served frozen with a paper umbrella poking jauntily from the glass.

Lemondrops are sometimes referred to as a lemon martini and come with some interesting variations. Using vodka as a base, lemon juice and simple syrup makes for a basic lemondrop. Additions such as triple sec, citrus schnapps or rimming the glass with sugar or salt, depending on taste, can make a lemondrop anywhere from candy-sweet to strikingly sour.

Named after the romance language words for ‘bloodletting,’ true sangria is made only in Spain and Portugal. Sangria made elsewhere is usually marketed under ‘aromatic wine’ or similar language. It is popular in many countries in Central and South America, especially during the hot summer months.

Supposedly made for visiting Tahitian friends, a bartender in Oakland, California purportedly mixed up lime juice, rum and Curaçao to create the Mai Tai in 1944 and soon became synonymous with Tiki parties and Hawaii. The drink was also featured quite prominently in Blue Hawaii, a 1961 romantic comedy featuring rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley.

Although there are competing claims concerning who actually invented the Fuzzy Navel, it only came into prominence when mixed drinks surged in popularity in the 1980s. Made of half peach schnapps and half orange juice, it can also be turned into a Hairy Navel by adding vodka.

Amaretto is made from either apricot pits or almonds, and has a complementary taste that lends itself to cooking. Tiramisu, pancake batter and whipped cream can all benefit from some amaretto. The brand name Disaronno is nut-free and safe for those with allergies. An amaretto sour, which includes lime juice and ice cubes, is perfect for an after-dinner drink, as well.

RECIPE

1 1/2 oz amaretto almond liqueur
1 – 2 splashes sweet and sour mix

47. Salty Dog

A Salty Dog is a Greyhound with a rim of salt along the rim of the glass. Other than presentation, the drinks are identical and equally delicious. While it was traditionally a gin-based drink, modern tastes has made vodka a much more likely base.

RECIPE

5 oz grapefruit juice
1 1/2 oz gin
1/4 tsp salt

48. White Russian

Relevant in popular culture due to being the signature drink of The Dude from the movie The Big Lebowski, White Russians are made from cream, coffee liqueur and vodka. It is quite sweet and pleasant for even those who don’t generally like the taste of alcohol, and can also be made ‘dirty’ by substituting the cream with chocolate milk.

RECIPE

2 oz vodka
1 oz coffee liqueur
light cream

49. Caipirinha

This cocktail is the national drink of Brazil, and can be found in nearly every bar and restaurant in the nation. The base is a liquor made of fermented sugar cane, called cachaça, which was previously unknown outside of the nation. With cachaça becoming more available world-wide, Caipirinha is rising in popularity.

RECIPE

2 tsp granulated sugar
8 lime wedges
2 1/2 oz Sagatiba Pura

50. Black and Tan

A beer drinker’s delight, a black and tan refers to a stout poured over a pale ale in a pint glass. The two beers can then be mixed or drunk in layers. Many purists insist the layers should not be mixed, so bartenders use a spoon to avoid splashing when pouring the stout.

51. Trinity Cocktail

An equal blend of sweet vermouth, dry vermouth and gin, this drink may seem like a kissing cousin of the martini. However, the taste is markedly different and can be personalized by your brand choices. Depending on your preferences, it can be more herbal and earthy or sweet and strong.